Former Naivasha Member of Parliament, Mr John Mututho, has refuted claims that he is among the prominent figures from the Mt. Kenya region who have been marginalized by the current administration.
Speaking to journalists in Nakuru City, Mr Mututho stated that at no point during previous and current administrations has he ever been denied access to government officials, offices or public events.
“I cannot recall any time, under past presidents, where I was blocked from seeing a minister, accessing the State House, or attending any public gathering,” he remarked, while reacting to reports in a section of the media.
In 2017, while serving as Deputy President and overseeing Jubilee Party primaries, Ruto was accused of orchestrating the defeat of Mt. Kenya political heavyweights in favor of newcomers loyal to him, a move that led to their fallout.
Several high-profile political figures lost to relatively unknown candidates, including former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo, ex-Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau, former presidential candidate and Nairobi gubernatorial hopeful Peter Kenneth, and former Naivasha MP John Mututho, among others.
Mr Mututho revealed that his opponents were backed and heavily funded by illicit alcohol producers, who actively campaigned against him and, in some instances, resorted to bribing voters to diminish his election chances.
“I don’t remember applying for any job and being denied, nor do I recall being mistreated by anyone — not even by village or community elders,” he asserted while dismissing the reports as false.
He emphasized that throughout his career, including his tough tenure at the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), he has been treated with respect by government officials, religious leaders, and the public alike.
Mr Mututho further clarified that he has not faced any harassment under the current government, adding, “Whenever and wherever President Ruto sees me, he stops and greets me with the utmost respect.”
Regarding his future in politics, Mr Mututho expressed contentment with his current roles, serving the public in various capacities. He said he would announce any political intentions, including his choice of party and office, at the appropriate time.
Mututho runs the John Mututho Empowerment Centre (JOMEC) at Mwariki in Nakuru Town East, the largest substance abuse recovery center in Kenya and the second-largest in Africa, based on enrolment, structure, and services provided.
On the potential impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Mututho said he had no standing to advise either the President or his deputy. He emphasized that any such process must be conducted within the constitutional framework and with decorum.
However, he humbly urged Gachagua to consider resigning quietly and re-strategize his political future, instead of stoking public sympathy in public rallies and media interviews over alleged mistreatment by Ruto’s allies.
Mututho also called on President Ruto to reconcile with Gachagua, should the impeachment effort fail, and to settle their differences privately for the sake of government stability and national unity.
“I also want to caution my people, especially the leaders in Nakuru. Gachagua’s fallout should not be seen as a declaration of war in the Rift Valley. It’s a separate issue, with its own dynamics. We are aware there were pre-election deals,” he noted.
Mr Mututho also took aim at former Cabinet Secretary for Water, Mr Zachary Njeru, accusing him of neglecting Nakuru County’s ongoing water crisis. He claimed that Njeru had done little to resolve the region’s persistent shortage of clean, reliable, and affordable water for domestic use.
Mr. Mututho highlighted that Nakuru last had a Cabinet Minister during the independence era, when Ochieng Oneko served in Jomo Kenyatta’s government. He noted that since then, the county has lacked significant representation nationally.
He emphasized that the county has been underrepresented at the national level since then, making Njeru’s tenure even more disappointing for locals, “In fact, I was sometimes thinking that he’s a minister for mineral water because there are so many mineral water things that I saw around here.”
